The Eurasian Curlew has never been a common species in Poland, but several decades ago it was far more numerous than it is today. Its characteristic, drawn-out call still echoes over wet and marshy meadows and pastures, yet its current situation looks completely different than it once did…
Over the past 23 years, the curlew population in Poland has declined more than threefold from around 650–700 breeding pairs before the year 2000 to just about 200 today. The Eurasian Curlew is a bird that does not tolerate rapid changes in its environment. Its habitats are vast, open spaces – wet meadows, peat bogs, and river valleys, where it can find both suitable nesting sites and feeding grounds rich in invertebrates. Its range has noticeably shrunk, but it can still be found in river valleys across:Wielkopolska, Mazovia, Podlasie, and the Lublin region.
One of the main threats to the curlew is habitat loss. The drainage of wetlands for agricultural use, river regulation, and the conversion of natural meadows into intensively managed fields are causing the birds to lose nesting areas. Additionally, mowing meadows too early poses a deadly risk to chicks that hatch in May and June – young birds that haven’t yet learned to fly fall victim to the blades of agricultural machinery.
Curlews also face threats from predators. Foxes , hooded crows, and ravens are particularly fond of curlew nests as an easy food source.Research shows that as many as 84% of unprotected nests can fall prey to predators!
Climate change also plays a role in the curlew’s fate.Increasingly frequent droughts and changes in vegetation structure affect food availability and reduce the birds’ chances of successfully raising their broods.
